Office of the President
Dr. Rebecca Ehretsman is the 18th president of Wartburg College. Under her leadership, the college launched the Wartburg Commitment, a three-pronged approach to increasing accessibility in higher education that includes a new competitive sticker price, additional scholarships for high-need students, and funding to offset the cost of experiential learning opportunities.
An active volunteer, President Ehretsman serves on the board of Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation, an organization that sends specialized teams of surgeons, therapists, anesthesiologists, nurses, and volunteers to Guatemala to provide comprehensive training and education to health care providers and students; screen children with traumatic injuries and congenital limb differences; and provide training for and maintain connection with local therapists who provide post-operative care. In April 2024, President Ehretsman embarked on her 20th medical mission.
She also is the chair of the American Rivers Conference Presidents Council and a member of the VGM Group Board of Directors, NCAA DIII Presidents Advisory Group, American Hand Therapy Foundation board, Grow Cedar Valley board, and Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities board.
Recently, President Ehretsman embarked on a partnership with generational experts David and Jonah Stillman to assemble a think of higher education leaders to study the characteristics of Generation Alpha and their parents as a means to inform future planning for residential campus communities within a virtual world.
